Below is a desktop background you can download from the link below the photo: from our favorite photographer in Costa Rica, Sylvia Guardia Monserrat:

August 2010 Costa Rica photo calendar

Download calendar photo here.

If you need a photographer in Costa Rica, Sylvia does an excellent job – weddings, architecture, nature, commercial, real estate, portraits. She’s a delightful person as well. Check out her website (linked above) for examples of her photography.

Thanks for letting us share this, Sylvia!

Costa Rica ranked 3rd out of 163 countries on the 2010 Environmental Performance Index, up from 5th in 2008. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with many different environments, but is keeping its environmental quality up while the country continues to develop. Even now 80% of their electric energy is from renewable sources, hydro and geothermal, and wind farms planned for Guanacaste will raise that.  Costa Rica’s plan is to be totally carbon neutral by 2021. One of their plans is to require all construction and renovations to be “green building” certified. Only Switzerland and Iceland ranked higher on the index. Globe-net described Costa Rica as “the green jewel”.  And it’s only a 2.5 hour flight from Florida!

Costa Rica produces 90% of its electricity from renewable sources, according to International Living magazine. In 2007 Costa Rica set a goal for itself to be carbon-neutral before its 200th birthday in 2021.  It’s almost made it there in just 3 years. Most of its electricity comes from hydropower, wind and geothermal. Next it will add solar to the mix. Costa Rica continues to be a world leader on green issues. More than a quarter of the country is national parks and reserves.

Laura Chinchilla, president of Costa Rica, is seeking input on improving citizen security. Increased security was one of her campaign promises. It’s interesting to see that she’s seeking input from the citizens of Costa Rica. In addition to town meetings, Ticos can comment by phone, e-mail and even Facebook. Read more at Tico Times.  I’ve felt very safe every time I’ve been in Costa Rica, but there as here one should use common sense: don’t leave your keys and wallet in your towel on the beach, don’t leave your laptop visible on the seat of your parked car, etc.

Peninsula Papagayo

in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, was the subject of a recent interview Kevin Brass of the International Property Journal recently had with Steve Grubba. Sales have increased this year at Peninsula Papagayo for single family homes, condo/villas and building lots. You may know this peninsula in northwest Costa Rica by the Four Seasons Resort at the tip of the Papagayo Peninsula. According to Grubba, the turnaround started in December 2009. Most of the current buyers are people planning to live in Costa Rica, or spend time there. The Four Seasons branded products have held  their pre-recession values. For the rest of the peninsula, lot prices are down about 30%, condos are down about 40%, and single family homes have held their value. The larger estate homes are in such demand that none are currently available.

Rob and I spent some time on the Peninsula Papagayo in January, had an extensive tour of the peninsula and looked at finished homes, homes under construction, condos, lots and the varied amenities.

Great sports fishing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has some of the best sport fishing in the world. On the Pacific coast of Costa Rica you can find excellent sailfish, marlin, tune, snapper, dorado, wahoo, mahi-mahi and roosterfish. Most marinas have many choices of charter boats and captains. Your hotel should be able to arrange a fishing trip for you, too. If you’re staying in your second home – ask your friends or stop at the local watering hole to ask around.

Many world records have been set in Costa Rica. In one year alone Costa Rica had a total of 117 world records for the year – 22 all-tackle records, 18 fly-fishing records and 77 line-class records. It has set more since then.

From Golfito and Puerto Jimenez on the south Pacific coast, Quepos and Los Suenos on the central Pacific Coast, and Tamarindo and Flamingo on the north Pacific coast to the many smaller spots in between, lots of sport fishing awaits you in Costa Rica.

A client’s perspective on Costa Rica sports fishing

Quepos marina

Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia Guanacaste Costa Rica

The Liberia Airport in Guanacaste Costa Rica had over 51,000 passengers traveling through in January 2010. This was an increase of 21.7% over January 2009 and 10.4% over January 2008.  The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) is very close to many Guanacaste resorts – Playa Hermosa is just 20 pleasant minutes from the airport. International flights started in 2002; now you’ll find American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, US Airways – even Finnair. About 30 different airlines fly into Liberia. If you’re heading for the Papagayo Peninsula or to Tamarindo, you’ll save a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose by flying into Liberia.

Clinica-Biblica Hospital in San Jose Costa Rica

Costa Rica health care is attracting visitors from the US and other countries. Visitors are coming not only for cosmetic surgery and dental work, but for knee replacements. The World Health Organization ranks Costa Rica’s health care system one spot ahead of the US. According to a report on Costa Rica by Kevin Brass this week in the  International Property Journal, the US is expected to generate 1.3 million medical tourists next year. Costa Rica is in the top 10 destinations for medical tourism.

The Costa Rican government is encouraging developers to build projects for foreign retirees that would include health care facilities.

In yesterday’s election for President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla was expected to take the lead, but there was a question of whether she’d get the 40% of votes needed to avoid a runoff in this multi-candidate election. She won nearly 47% of the vote, so is scheduled to take office May 8th. Not only will Chinchilla be the first woman president of Costa Rica, she won all 7 voting districts, which hasn’t been done in the last quarter century. 50 years old, Pres-dent-Elect Chinchilla has served in the legislature, was Minister of Security, and served as Vice President until she resigned a year ago to run for President.

On Wednesday the new Costa Rica highway from San Jose to Caldera on the central Pacific Coast opened, after 34 years of planning. This 77 kilometer highway cuts the time for the trip from San Jose to Caldera from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, a major time saver. Various sections are two lane, three lane and four lane, with shoulder lanes.  This opening is long awaited good news for the area. We’ve driven on some sections of the new road and the positive difference is amazing! Much better driving conditions, but still offering great views of the Costa Rican countryside.